* CoveredUp: His songs have been covered by numerous artists
** "Ne Me Quitte Pas" ("If You Go Away") by Music/FrankSinatra, Music/NinaSimone
** "Le Moribond" ("The Dying Man") by Terry Jacks as "Seasons in the Sun"
** "Amsterdam" by Music/DavidBowie
** "Seasons in the Sun" by Music/{{Westlife}}
** Other cover artists: Marc Almond, Music/ScottWalker, Liesbeth List,...
* GrowingTheBeard: His earliest recordings are a bit naïve and gentle MoralityBallad. Famous French chansonnier Music/GeorgesBrassens even compared him with a preaching priest. Later, his records matured enormously and became more cynical, introspective and even risqué. (DarkerAndEdgier in short)
* MemeticMutation: Brel's cry of ''"Chauffe, Marcel!"'' from "Vesoul" has entered the French language.
* {{Narm}}: While his LargeHam tendencies were often awesome, sometimes they veered into this.
* SacredCow: His status in Belgium.
* TearJerker: Brel was known for his passionate and intense delivery, most memorable in "Ne Me Quitte Pas".
* ValuesDissonance: His song "Jacky" is notable for having a homophobic slur.